Airship



A. E. HENDERSON AIRSHIP med May 17, 1917 n 5 Sheets-sheet 2 w N5 Y//oo /OBL /ma Syl/Lw Ay E4 Henderson A. E. HENDERSON Oct. 1l, 1927.

AIRSHIP Filed May 1'7, 1917 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1,645,237 Oct n 1927' A. E. HENDERgoN AIRSHIP Filed May 17; 1917 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 11, 1927. A

A. E. HENDERSON AIRSHIP Filed' May 17, 1917 5 Shee'LS-Sheeil 5 Am mm\ Patented *a. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES ALBERT ENNIS HENDERSON, TORONTO, ONTARO, CANADA.

AIRSHIP.

Application led May 17, 1917. Serial No. 169,253.

In the use of air-ships both commercially and inoffensive and defensive. warfare,'a number of difiiculties, vheretofore unsurmounted, have been encountered with reference to dirigibles of both the gas bag and aeroplane types. Chiefamong these diiiiculties may be mentioned those which render dirigibles ineffective in the proper and accurate aiming and discharge of projec-.

tiles whether the objectof attack is another dirigible, an observation balloon having more or less movement, a fixed or moving object on land, or a submarine, and of such difiiculties, more especially applicable in attack upon a submarine or othermow'ng ob- .j'ect may be mentioned the impossibility heretofore of maintaining` the offensive or 4projectile discharging mechanism in a relative state of stability in order' to insure accuracy of aim; that of regulating the speed` and positiondf an aeroplane .so as to maintain the poperelevation and enable the ob- Servers to' keep thesubmarine in sight; that of preventing drift, due to air currentsyparticularly as to shipsembodying the gas bag feature, and that of controlling the position of the air-ship with reference to the ,object of attack so as to hover or poise thereover either, at a regulable speed relative theretoL or without progressive movement; that. ofv

u ickly and effectively changing the elevation or lateral direction of movement or reversal of movement of the air-ship, particularly as regards those of the gas bag type:

.that of limit-ed 4load carrying capacity ot' ships of the aeroplane type, etc., as well .as the inconveniences. with reference to gas bag, incident to depending upon ballast as a means of controlling the elevationA and the disadvantages in'discharging missiles imeithe supporting clement-.such as a gas bag. in combination with a stabilized ca ror supported element adapted for use as an observation and control station or an offensive or ordnance station, vfrom which torpedoesbmnbsor other projectiles may be dischargethor both, and also to provide means in connection with such car 'for assisting in the dirigible control of the ship as a unit. g Further objects and advantages of theinvention will appear in the following descrip- 'tion Vof a preferred embodiment` it'being Vunderstood that changes vin the form,` proportion and minor details may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the drawings` Figure. l is a side view partly broken away and shown more or less diagrammatically of an air-ship illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a reversed or bottom plan view of the car or supported element..

Fig. .i is an end view ofthe supporting element embodying' the gas bag to illustrate.

,more clearly the means which may hc located in the auxiliary stations for operating and adjusting the various parts Fig. G is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the supporting element to show the means in the auxiliary station in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'T is a detail detached view illustrating means which may be employed for operatirig the air planes of the supported element.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing thc trimming device and means for operating the same. Y

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view in detail v of the torpedo mounting and discharging apparatus.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the cam torpedo releasing element with its support and operating means.

Fig. 11 is a plan view ofthe upper end of the torpedo seating shell and the clamps carried thereby;

Fig. 12 is a detailbottom plan view of the torpedo head.

Fig.' 13 is a detail view of the throw-oli` ics -ment, if any, wind velocity making corrections only for speed of inoveand direction,

' and the like, 'and without substantial` re- -to actuate propellers 48, 'of which any desired number 'Amay be provided.-

Similarly,'auxiliary steering air-planes or rudders 49 may be arranged fore and aft upon the car and at the extremities of lateral wings 50, the car preferably being of what may be termed star-shape -to secure a subistantial equilibrium fore and aft and later'- alljpand .hencean approximate uniformity o f strain. upon the suspending means, are

arranged' elevating and depressing airplanes `5,1. Also 'extending' laterally from the 'forward and' rearward arms of the car are disposed elevating and depressing airplanes 52 vwhich 'may be adapted by any suitable or well known means for deflection coincidentally .and proportionately to the planes 51 for assistancein maintaining the proper relation between the supporting and supported elements, :especially under Aconditions involvingthe.necessity of speed .in movement. r The car may be provided with floats or runners 52' .and wheels or if'tjllers 53 for use as inthe-ordinary praeticeg'lin landing on water or land. v

Before referring more particularly to details of construction and special mechanism-` attention isdiiected to the fact that by reason of the transverse propelling means of the supporting element. not only can the structure be moved bodily either liorizon tally or vertically, particularly when the ship is not making endwise or longitudinal progress, but it may be moved pivotally by imparting reverse revol'uble movement to the fan picpllers fore and aft'of the center of said supporting element. In other words,

the entire structure can be turned on a verti-l positions of `the fore and aft .or terminal,V

rudders 32, Ain horizontal pivotal or swinging movement, and 'by the fore and ait planes 35 in the vertical pivotal or swing` ing movement. Also cooperativelytherewith, moregespecially in the horizontal' pivotal movement of the supporting element the car or supported element may have its aft riidders 49 adjusted to secure a correlgore and i sponding pivotal movement around a center l common with that of the gas bag. Such a possibilit-y of manipulation avoidsthc nee.-

essity of making a broad circuiiiterential swing in order to change the direction of Y progress of the ship oil to in itiate a course. at a considerable angle from that indicated by the longitudinal axis ofthe plane while at rest.

The stabilizing of the c ar or ordnance chamber from which projectiles arel to bel discharged or dropped in connectioiiwith anattack upon a submerged submarine, is

secondary only iii importance -to the chaia'rteristics ofthe pi-oJec'tile. and its adaptability to enter and progressively penetrate.

the water in-ordei to reach its mark, ai'fd; iii this connection, attention is called to1Fig. 9 of the drawings wherein there is detailed a form of torpedo designed especially' for this purpose, together with the means car- .ried by the car for operating andndischarging the same and consisting essentially of 'a tubular stand or casing 54, registering with 1 a suitable opening in thetloor ofthe ordnance chamber and containingarevoluble i sli-ell oi' seat 55 between which and the-stand or casing may be arranged ball or other suitable anti-friction bearings -56, the-torpedo 5T ybeing shown seated i said shell or seatand 'provided with a head ably in a pocket 58 at the top of the shell orol arranged reinov seat and held therein by catches l59l which may be-yieldingly held in their engaging -positions -by springs GO-or any equivalentl thereof. The shell orseat'isprovided with a spindle or extension 61 to -Which may be imparted revoliible movement at anydeiou sired velocity, asvfor example, through iieans of a pulley 62 and-'belt 63 driven by a suitable engine or motorra velocity gauge 'or-speed indicator 64 being connected with the spindle to enable the operator to determine the rapidity of revolution to suitv the conditions under which the torpedo is to be released. Exteriorly the torpedo is provided with spiral flanges 65 for the purpose of increasing the .penetrating power of theI torpedo on entering the water and the progressive movement thereof due to the revolution produced by the discharging means,- and also to assist in securing accu-` racy of High'tof the torpedo by the gyroscopic movement. be employed for simultaneously disengaging the catches 60 from the head of the torpedo, such as a cam ring 66, the axial movement of which will repress the tails of all of .the

catches and Withdraw the noses thereof from engagementwith the torpedo which is then free to leave the shell or seat under the action of gravity, or other impelling force.

Any suitable means may n du be dndereteedihee the. deeeribed and illustrated means for manipulating. and

dischargingthe torpedo are me'relyitypical of many forms which may be employed in v this connection, the essential. polnt being to? so discharge or'release the missile as to in surel a relatively accurate flight and strike the surface of the nja-ter with .the minimum resistant effect and hence splash, so that' the -rotatryniovement of the projectile may be continued for the purpose of 'ving the spi# ralflanges or lwings a prope ling effect to carry theprojectile to its target. Obviously either time or percussion fuses maybe emplyed 1 Ai-n .tliis connection and' a gale of velocities so 'far as the speed of rotation.

iveght fore and at and lateral, there is a possibility of slight yariation, 'pa `rticularly eif it should happen that lookou'ts or o era- Stations are 'of different'weiglits, 'and' as 'a means of compensating for' suclr va-riations,'

therefis provided a trimming .device consistinglof a weight 67loeated-on a; suitable poiting element. tween the auxiliarysta:V

'tions and adapted `to lie-moved fore o'r :aft-A as required by'any suitable.means`such a threaded rod 69 operable from'eitherstation by'a crank 70.

and controlling 'the movements and operajtions of the various agenciesA utilized in the manipulation' of the ship audits'parts may. be devised, but merely for ther` purpose of illustration, attention :is called t. Fig. '5'

showing an'arrangement of prtsby'v'vhich the adjustment of the lateral and laterally directing air-planes of the supporting element may be adjusted, as ollows:

The spindles '71 ofithe side planesmay be prov'ided withworm' gears 72with which mesh 'worms 78-carriedfby a spindle L74` adapted, as more clearly indicatedin Figjl,

to be actuated from a, hand Wheel 7 5, or itsequivalent, through the agency of. gear connections 76, and similarly efworni ,shaft or spindle 77 (more clearly shovn 1n, Fig. 6) maybe turned for the adjustment ofl the laterally directing planes by means of-aV hand wheel-7 8 or its e uivalent throug`h-the gear connections 79 an 'spindle 80.

In Fig. 6 there is also shown 'a conventional form of means for communicating motion from the engine or motor 33 to the rile as hereinabove brought out it is the aim to. maintain anormal longitudinal and transverse equilibrium. of 'the supporting' elementby an equal' distribution of the 5 tives located respectively in the auxi iary,

track 68'extndinv longitudinally of the sup-AV f'inthe r'everse direction' relativel Many modifications of means for effecting' transversely movin propellersv 38 and 40, so that either or -oth may be driven in either' direction so as to impart the desired bodily movement to the supporting'eleme'nt. For example, with reference to thepiopel- 70 1ers 40, an endless belt 81 passing around suitable pulleys'e82 and. idlers 83 may traverse a driven pulleyl 84 which by suitable clutch members may be thrown into engagement vwith either .of two shaft Aelements 85 75 and 86, the` former being'actuated directl by the motor and the latter4 being connecte( therewith. -for reverse movement i by' suitable mechanism such as `pulleys 87 on the shaft eleuients` and an endless belt 88 traversing' 80 idlcrs 89,' A similar mechanism indicated at 90, andY whichin view v of the foregoing it' is -unnecessary. to describe in detaiLA may be employedl for transmitting 'motion in either direction through the shaft element 91 to 85 the vertical. opeller spindle 92.f A,

. Indrder t at either'or both fore' andaft lateral propeIlers may b'e 'thrown'info 'oper- 'ative lrelation .with their r'espective'motors for operation either in' the same or opposite l90 directions, means for example such asshmvn in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 may be utilized', the saine consist-ing oan endless cable 93 of 'wre or' the like extended through a suitable casing' 94 vconnecting the auxiliary stations `and '$5 having a throw-olf o'nnection 95 Withthe clutch shifting -le vrs 96: This endless cable y may 'be' arranged to' traverse operating `pul' leys or wheels-97 arranged i'n the stations,

and under`normalconditions .the'turning 100 of either o'LSaidjWheeIS-will result in thro'wing both clutches in' one.direction`, whereas by -disengaging Ithe lever :96 'in fone" station'- from the cable., the" clutches may` be thrown by the operator Ain either station'so' as o secure `the 'desired direction of rotation relatively o'f the pro ellerse' A' -similar mechanism m'ay be emp oyed for the conti-0I of the fore and aft elevating and depressing'piopellers 110 '.I Figs. 15,'16 and-17,' there is. shownin -detailthe shifting lever 96,*clutch Wheel 84 and shaft element 98 upon-Which' themov-L able clutch element is-featlfered.

In Fig. l7 there is illustrated in-det'ailjnxll dic-ated in proper position it-98 in Fig. 1,

a device .embodyinga continuously driven rotary elementsuch .as a pulley "99' which may :receive 'it'si motion'` from 'any suitable V motor or other source and havingits spindle 1.20'

100. provided with -a` friction pulley '101.'

adapted `to `bepositioned' in contact with eitherof -friction 'discs 102, 103 carried by worm 'shaft1 104. :Said vvorm shaft is provided wieii'wems iosmhing with worm 12'5 'gears 106 on' the spindles 107 of the `elevat in'g anddepressing planes', 52 of the.sup' ported elementf -It is4 obvious that thearrangement ofthe driving disc 101 in contact y with one' 0r theother of the friction discs 130 102, 103 will cause the rotation of the worin shaft 104 in one direction or the other to reverse the movements of the air-planes, whereas when said friction disc is in an interme'diate or neutral position, the planes will remain stationary and will be held locked by the worms.

This method of operating the planes is merely typical and ymay be appl-ied to operate those of the supporting element or substituted by means permitting of the turning of the worms manually.

It will also be obvious that the spindle 61 of the torpedo dischar ing apparatus may be rotatedby any suitale mechanism, for example, the belt 63 may be operated by one of the motors housed within the supported element or by a special motor'as may be preferred. Y

1. An airship having a dirigible supporting element, .a car yieldingly supported thereby, means on the car from which projectiles may berreleased for propulsion by gravity and a gyroscope vertically alined therewith on the car for stabilizing the same,

substantially as set forth.

2, A11 air-shiphaving a dirigible supporting element including ,a gas bag, fiues extending horizontally therethrough front and in'rea'r of the center of the length of the gas bag, reversible propellingelements located in-said fiues, and means for 'operating the latter in the same or in opposite directions to effect bodily lateral or pivotal movement of the supporting element.

3. An air-ship having a. dirigible supportin element provided with sets of liorizontay disposed lines arranged respectively fore and aft of the center of the length of the supporting element, reversible propelling elements mounted in said flues, and means for operating the same simultaneously in the same or in opposite directions.

4. An air-ship having a dirigible supporting element provided fore and aft of the center of its length with groups or transverse horizontal and vertical fiues,reversi blepropellin means located respectively in said flues, an means for operating the same.

5. An air-ship comprisin an elongated normally horizontal gas ag, operators baskets at the front and rear of the bag, and steering means including a setof vertical rudders at front and arranged along the top of the bag and a'shaft extendinv lengthwise of the gas bagconnected to said rudders to adjust them simultaneously and connections to said shaft adjacent to each basket, substantially as set forth.

6. Ari air-ship comprising an elongated gas bag, independent propellers adjacent theopposite ends thereof, a plurality of propellers and rudders arranged in the longitudinalhorizontal axis of said air-ship, independent motors driving the respective propellers and baskets rigidly secured to the traine work of the gas bag adjacent said propellers, said baskets forming supports for the respective motors and for their operators, substantially7 as set forth.

7. An airship comprising an elongated dirigible gas-bag, oppositely extending propellers at the ends thereof, rudders project-- ing from each end, transverse horizontal fiues at each end, and reversible propellers in said fiues, substantially as set forth.

8. An airship comprising an elongated normally horizontal dirigible gas bag having oppositely extending propellers at the ends, rudders projecting fromcach end, vertical and horizontal filles at each end thereof and reversible propellers therein, substantially as set forth.

9. A dirigible airship comprising an elongated cylindrical envelope tapering at the ends, a longitudinal series of rudders on the envelo e, radially extending shafts supporting axially of the envelope, and connectionsl from said shaft to each of said rudders for adjusting said rudders simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

10. A dirigible airship comprising an` elongated cylindrical envelope tapering at ing said rudders, and a single shaft extendand means to move the planes of both sets simultaneously comprising a shaft extendingI longitudinally of the airship, shafts extending at right angles therefrom and connected' to theplanes, -Worin gears on the latter shafts and worms on the first shaft engaging said worin gears, substantially as set forth.

12. In a dirigible air-shippan elongated gas container, a longitudinal series of rudders` thereon having pivots in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the gas container, propeller shafts arranged transversely fore and aft of the ship in said plane and propellers thereon co-operating with the rudders to steer the same, substantially as set forth.

13. An airsliip comprising an elongated gas container, vertical and horizontal flues extending therethrough adjacent to its ends, and propellers in said lhies at their intersection with the axis ofthe gas container, substantially as set forth.

14. In a dirigible airship, an elongated gas container, a longitudinal series of rudders thereon-,L propellerA shafts arraii ed transversely of fthe shilp `4 and'- propel ers thereon. cooperating Wit the-liudd'ers' to steers the same laterally; a; shaft vext'e'nding.v

longitudinally of. the -airship andyiorr'n earing connecting substantially asset-forth.

15. Ina dirigible airshipkan elongated gas container, ,alongi'tl'idinal Aseriesfoj .rudders thereon., t' ropellerA-shats arranged trans versel'yjo) the ship' and" lropellers'-thereon cooperating with the ru ders tosteerf th `same, laterally, -a shaft extending axially of" the gas container and worin'gearing connect! tainerfsteeringf means'thereon,l` a, car yieldfingly. supported thereby -Tat a plurality of -20 polnts along its l`ength,.meai1s on athe car for;

leveling it, and'mea'nson the-'car for. droppingan elongated bomb with .its nose pointing downirvard, substantiallyas forth. l I nfan airship; 'an elongated gas conjaineq "steeringfnieansthereon, aar yield:v ingly supported thereby'atfa plurality 'of' points along its length,'laterally extending planeson thecar for .bringing it: to -ho'riz'on- .tal positionfandinea'ns on the -car ondrpping an elongated `with its' `nose.pointA mg downward, 1substa1tially-as-setf. -forth. A 18. .id-n .airship 'comprising :fdirigible'ga's container, and. a.' 'pilotis' cabin, vertical 'land horizontal shafts passingthrough, the` "gas ontaiperadjaceiit' to the frontr a-nd rearvends Of the same, axially. located reversible prop ellexs in 'said-shaft and. cooperating laterally` dis osed pl nes'adjustablesiniultaneosly an `contrpl ed from' th'e longitudi nal centenof the pllots.cabinz-substan-tially asset forth;`

. Q'. An airsliip'conipr'isiifxg'adirigible gascontainer" and a'. ilotscabin vertical and fof the same, axially located reversible pro-` pellers in said shafts,- .Coopera-tinglaterallyA i horizontal shafts passino through l the gas Vcontaineradjacent. lto the Nront and rear ends disposedl planes adjustable simultaneously and controlled 4from the longi'tiidinah centei-` Y of the pilots cabin, and afyieldnglysupP 'operat 'proximately through as set forth. f

ment .simultaneously to "any desired. "po'sition-jfor thefp'urpose set'A forth and being llocatedequi-distantv iorel and..- aft "of" the portedseparately "pro elled Aplane suspended' therefrom, 'substantia 'f3-cal shafts located-adjacent to 'the'endstheref of and oontainingjgversible': rjop'ellersi'iat A asset forth. Y* -204A`digib1e1airs ipV having ,i pimps A.

the axial centerpf the'saidirs ip; laterally andl vertically disposed.'plaiessimultaneously adJustable. loatedflatflthe `eitifeniities of Said'gplanes 'and the" ropellersfcontained* operation of-the'slai 22.1 All airship-iiigfigipgizpntg A -a gas container,- fp ropell in'g means f'thelrefoi and vaseries of`horizontal planes4 controlled' cabin said planes beingcapable of ad'ust'- .ment `simultaneously to' .any desired :red`

positionfoi' the purpose' Lse6forth.`

and series fof horizontal planes 'controlled' from rthe longitudinal; axis ofthe'. pilot-s cabin' s aidplanesA being "capable 'fad'ust.-

transxerse line. passing through thecenter point of the longitudinalaxis, substantially as set' fOl'tb. f

A'LERT-.ENNIS HENDERSON.' Y

algas containera' propelling means' tlierefor, v"vertical 'and transierse rudders fore and aft, 

